When a newborn leaves the safety of its mother’s womb and enters the world, it takes time for his or her body to acclimatise to the new surroundings. It’s natural for babies to get infections in their first few days and weeks, but a new study reveals that early viral infections in infants can lead to long term respiratory problems.
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According to the study, asymptomatic viral infections in a baby’s early days and weeks of life are linked to a higher risk of respiratory infections later in life.
Viruses were discovered to interact with babies’ immune systems and microbiomes (the community of bacteria that reside in our bodies) in a way that altered both a child’s risk and the number of infections that followed.
Experts believe that preventing such early viral infections, or strengthening immune systems with carefully formulated probiotics, could reduce the risk.
Many factors can affect a newborn’s microbiome, including the birth route (vaginal or caesarean), breastfeeding, medications, and the hospital atmosphere. However, respiratory infections are a critical public health issue.
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Experts believe that an early initial viral infection causes interferon-related gene activity, which creates a pro-inflammatory environment that keeps newborns vulnerable to future infections.
